Dating someone with bipolar

If you are currently dating someone with bipolar disorder , you may struggle with a number of challenges like how you can support him or her while still caring for yourself. Knowledge is power, so learn as much as you can about your partner's disease. This will also be a healthy sign to him or her that you care. That being said, bipolar disorder is a complex disease. Try not to get too bogged down in the details. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

SEE VIDEO BY TOPIC: Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder, A Simple Guide to Bipolar Relationships.

SEE VIDEO BY TOPIC: Dating with Bipolar - Bipolar Disorder: In Our Own Words - WebMD

9 Rules for Bipolar Relationships

Last summer, when my boyfriend watched me sleep on a hospital gurney, I realized we had to have a real talk about my mental health. A manic episode had left me delusional and paranoid — and in the ER for a day. My ups and downs are visible to anyone who knows me well. If you are dating someone with bipolar disorder, keep these points in mind.

This only underlines the importance of having plans and approaches identified and considered. Once someone is in the throes of a manic episode, they might, like I do, feel euphoric, energetic, and deny that there is an issue. I was abusing substances and, after days of little to no sleep, reached a breaking point. When I started seriously questioning reality, my partner brought me to the ER, where doctors gave me valium and an IV for dehydration. I woke up in a calmer state but had to work on controlling my hypomania for the next few weeks.

My partner had never seen me like that before and was deeply concerned. We talked about how I could actively take steps to protect myself. This included reminding myself to stay at home and to minimize the risk of doing anything irrational, limiting my alcohol and substance use, trying desperately to get enough or any sleep, and making myself eat regularly. I deeply value his support, but I also recognize that my mental illness is not his responsibility.

I want him to be mentally healthy, too, and that means practicing self-care and establishing boundaries. As I alluded to earlier, for me, substance abuse can lead to an episode. Another trigger for me is experiencing a lot of change at once — this can include moving to a new city, starting a new job, and meeting a bunch of new people. For Daisy, 26, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 15, triggers include big stressors like breakups or fights, not being able to sleep, money problems, major environmental or weather shifts, and people talking about death and other sensitive topics.

Luzano agrees. I make sure to communicate this to my partner. Daisy, too, finds bipolar disorder tires her out and leads to bailing on plans. Like other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder is often stigmatized and misunderstood. Those of us with the disorder have our highs and lows, but we will return to baseline or an otherwise happy place with the right treatment plan. This can include medication, therapy , structured activities, self-care , and overall healthy living.

It helps to have a support system. Luzano says that like with any illness, such as diabetes or hypertension, it is the responsibility of the person dealing with bipolar disorder to engage in treatment as needed. Once you figure out how to interact with us during the highs and lows, learn about our triggers, and respect our alone time, it gets easier.

We need open lines of communication about how to work through our highs and lows. Tinder Pick-Up Lines. Tinder Bios. Dating Tips. First Dates. All About Us. What's Swipe Life? Apple Store Google Play.

Tips for Dating Someone With Bipolar Disorder

Dating during your twenties is an experience in itself, but when you live with a severely stigmatized condition like bipolar disorder, dating can really be a challenge. As a year-old mental health advocate who is publicly open about her life with bipolar II disorder, I have often experienced stigma in my dating life. Bipolar disorder is a part of me, and I am not ashamed of my condition, in fact, it is the opposite, I embrace it. Should you even tell them at all?

Most of the time, living with bipolar disorder is uneventful. When that happens, it can interfere with my work life, friendships and—as you can imagine—completely sabotage my dating life.

D ating is hard. I continued to stare at the back of her head from my desk, in the full knowledge that she would never speak to me again. This is how it is for everyone. But what is it like when, in addition to your inability to say anything remotely funny or interesting to the person you are into, you have a mental health problem as well? How does that affect the way you interact with them?

What You Should Know When Dating Someone With Bipolar Disorder

Or maybe we live in such confusing, crazy times as to push us all a little closer to the edge. Intimacy is important to our health and happiness , so we need strategies for love in these maddening times. Bipolar disorder is more prevalent these days. In any given year, 2. The more you date, the higher your odds are of running across someone with this disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and activity levels. These changes are so extreme that an affected individual may seem like a different person when they are up, as opposed to down. Everybody has moods, but bipolar disorder interferes with normal daily living.

6 Tips to Remember When Bipolar Disorder Is Part of Your Relationship

Photo by Lidya Nada on Unsplash. But it doesn't have to be. Meet Jess. She's is in her mid-twenties and was diagnosed with bipolar when she was 21, but she's been with her partner since she was

Last summer, when my boyfriend watched me sleep on a hospital gurney, I realized we had to have a real talk about my mental health.

Most committed relationships have their challenges. Add bipolar to the mix and the degree of difficulty suddenly gets a lot higher. But a diagnosis of bipolar can also enhance a loving relationship and enrich the lives of both parties.

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Every girl who is looking for her Prince Charming always envisions a tall, dark and handsome man. Few descriptions of this person ever describe his mental condition; however, psychology tells us that if a person is tall, dark and handsome, the halo effect that we ascribe to him will automatically include intelligence, wit and mental stability. If you are unfamiliar with the halo effect, it simply means that a person with one good quality is seen to have many good qualities. Few, if any women will ever achieve this perfect vision in their real lives.

The prospect of dealing with a lifelong, life-threatening condition can be overwhelming. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder, for example, can test even the strongest of foundations. The unpredictable symptoms and behaviors of a person experiencing bipolar disorder can shake up a relationship and may scare even the most supportive partner. These symptoms can include:. Not surprisingly, communication is essential to supporting your partner and your union.

5 Secrets to Dating When You Have Bipolar Disorder

For people with bipolar, dating means taking it slow, minimizing anxiety, and putting yourself first. For people with bipolar disorder , piloting the unpredictable waters of dating can mean much more anxiety than normal. Here, five adults with bipolar disorder talk about their dating experiences, and how they navigate both the dating scene and the crucial question of when to disclose their mental health issues. Dattaro was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder right after her 23rd birthday. Greenberg agrees, noting that in someone with bipolar disorder , that excitement can be heightened. So to those with bipolar who are entering the dating scene, she advises, "since bipolar people can be impulsive, you might want to prepare yourself for taking your time. Greenberg also says that your anxiety could be heightened. Leah Yegneswaran, 24, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 20, agrees.

Aug 29, - Whether you're dating & bipolar or dating someone with bipolar disorder, it can be tricky at times. Learn some strategies about dating with.

Jennifer Payne, M. Not knowing what to expect each day is stressful and tiring. Over time, it wears on the relationship.

The ups and downs of dating with bipolar

The highs and lows characteristic of some forms of bipolar disorder may affect the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. This includes how they act in romantic relationships. People with bipolar disorder experience severe high and low moods.

Dating With Bipolar Can Be an Exhausting Cycle of Intensity and Bailing